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Grasses and Their Varieties in Indian Literature

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Grasses and Their Varieties in Indian Literature Full-length paper Asian Agri-History Vol. 17, No. 4, 2013 (325–334) 325 Grasses and their Varieties in Indian Literature KG Sheshadri Plot No. 30, “Lakshmy Nivas”, Railway Colony, RMV Extension, Lottegollahalli, Bangalore 560094, Karnataka, India (email: [email protected].) Abstract Grasses have been widely distributed all over the planet. They have been in use for various purposes since time immemorial and held sacred by our ancestors. Although grass is a general term there are several species that are still not recognized by the common man. Even astounding is that the effi cacy and special uses of grasses unknown to us are discussed widely in ancient Indian texts. The present article tries to bring out the different grasses mentioned in these texts. It would be good to study, identify, and research the uses of these grasses as given in these texts. Grasses occupy wide tracts of land in the purposes. Grass was used to construct an world. They occur in all types of soil and altar (Vedi), to make seat, used as amulets or under all climatic conditions. The grass charms, for religious ceremonies and so on. family exceeds all other plant classes in Ancient sages have identifi ed several types its economic value and service to man and of grasses. The Rigveda (RV) identifi es animals. Recognition of various types of several types of grasses giving their grass and their uses have come down from qualities and uses (Arya and Joshi, 2005). immemorial times of humanity. The grass Some of them are: family (Gramineae) comprises of more than • Darbha (Imperata cylindrica): It has two 10000 species of different grasses classifi ed varieties – Kharadarbha (Desmostachya broadly under two series – Panicaceae and bipinnata) and Mridudarbha (Eragrostis Poaceae (Dabadghao and Shankaranarayan, ciliaris) (RV 1.191.3). The Atharvaveda 1973). Grasses are great survivors, toughest, (AV) cites that its effi cacy is to calm anger able to withstand being burnt, frozen, (AV 6.43); it is rich in roots, has 1000 drowned, parched, grazed, or trampled leaves and 100 stalks (AV 19.32.1). It is upon, and regenerate fast. The values identifi ed with Soma as king of plants of grasses have been revered by ancient (AV 8.7.20). Botanically it has been found civilizations all over the world. that it is the hardiest grass whose roots penetrate deep up to 5 feet. Grasses in the Vedas • Kusha (Desmostachya bipinnata): It is From Vedic times, grass has been upheld to termed as kushara (RV 1.191.3) and is be most sacred that it was used for various generally equated with Kharadarbha. 326 Grasses in Indian literature • Durva (doorva; Cynodon dactylon): It Brahmana (AB), Taittiriya Samhita (TS), grows on damp ground and is a species Maitrayani Samhita (MS), and Kathaka of bent grass (RV 10.16.13, 10.134.5). Samhita (KS). They are: • Ulapa: It is referred in RV 10.142.3 and • Sugandhitejana (fragrant grass): AB AV 7.66.1. (1.28.28), SB (13.5.2.17), TS (6.2.8.4) • Kasha (Saccharum spontaneum): It is • Veerana (Andropogon muricatus; syn. used for mats (RV 10.100.10). Vetiveria zyzaniodes): SB (13.8.1.15) • Sara (Saccharum sara): It is referred • Balvaja (Eleusine indica): SB in RV 1.191.3 and AV 4.7.4. It is a reed (14.1.3.11), TS (2.2.8.2), KS (10.10), generally used for making arrow shafts. MS (2.2.5) • Shashpa (young sprouting grass): It is • Gavedhuka (Coix barbata or Coix referred in Yajurveda Samhita (YV) lacryma-jobi): SB (14.1.2.19) (19.13.81). • Munja (Saccharum sara): TB (3.8.1.1.), • Balvaja (Eleusine indica): Baskets are SB (6.6.1.23), TS (5.1.9.5) made out of it (RV 8.55.3). It is also • Isheeka (reed grass): SB (4.3.4.16), TB referred in AV 14.2.22. (3.8.4.3) • Sairya: It is mentioned in RV 1.191.3. • Barhis (sacrificial grass): SB It is a species of grass infested by (1.9.2.29) insects. • Ashvavala (Saccharum spontaneum): • Sada: It is referred in RV 9.15.6 and YV SB (3.4.1.17) 25.1. It is a special species. • Shumbala (straw): Harisvamin’s There are some other species of grass commentary of SB (12.5.2.3) identifi ed and glorifi ed by other Vedic texts like the Brahmanas and Samhitas. Most of these are found in Taittiriya Brahmana Grasses in the epics and (TB), Shatapatha Brahmana (SB), Aitareya Puranas Sage Valmiki in his Ramayana mentions grass in several contexts used as seat for sacred From Vedic times, grass has been purposes (1.3.2) and as a charmed missile upheld to be most sacred that it was (5.38.29). He also mentions kusha grass used used for various purposes. Grass was for rituals (3.15.5) and for thatching cottages used to construct an altar (Vedi), to at Panchavati along with kasha and shara make seat, used as amulets or charms, (3.15.22). Tulasidasa in his Ramayana states for religious ceremonies and so on. that Devi Sita speaks to Ravana after holding Ancient sages have identifi ed several a straw as a screen in between. types of grasses. Trinadhari ota rahata vaidehi| Asian Agri-History Vol. 17, No. 4, 2013 327 Many varieties of grass and their uses are grasses are progeny of Valli, daughter extoled in several Puranas. An additional of Ira (69.338-341). feature in Puranas is that the effi cacious values of various grasses are mentioned. Grasses in post-Vedic literature Some of these are: Several kavyas in the Vedas, epics, and Puranas have immense references to • Damanaka (Phragmites karka): Skandha the species of grasses. Kalidasa in his Purana (II.2.38.13) mentions this grass Ritusamhara (I.25, VI.25, III.1) refers to the sprung from a place where a demon various grasses darbha, doorva, niladoorva, of the same name was killed by Lord kasha, kusha, and shara. Mudrarakshasa Vishnu. quotes the kasha grass. • Darbha (Imperata cylindrica): The The Sushruta Samhita (Sutrasthana, 38) Skandha Purana (VI.221.46) mentions refers to several grasses like darbha, that they are a must for Shraddha (ritual doorva, kasha, kusha, and shara. Some of manes). The Garuda Purana (II.19.19) additional grasses mentioned by Sushruta also mentions that the Trinity dwell in the in Sushruta Samhita are: blades of darbha. Agni Purana (266.12) states that darbha should be used in • initiation and other rituals. Dhyamaka (Andropogon lamgier): Used in treating vayu and kapha doshas • Doorva: The Vamana Purana (18.9) (38.12). mentions two varieties of this grass • – white and dark based on shades of Gundra (Typha angustifolia; syn. T. green. The Garuda Purana (I.131.1-2) elephantina): Known as elephant grass extols the virtues of worshiping this and used in treating urinary diseases grass in Shukla Paksha of Bhadrapada (37.3). as Doorvashtami. This is also upheld by • Musta (Cyperus rotundus): Known as Bhavishya Purana. nutgrass (10.3, 38.13, 38.26). • Kusha (Desmostachya bipinnata) • Usheera and nalada (Andropogon and kasha (Saccharum spontaneum): muricatus; syn. Vetiveria zizaniodes): Brahma Purana (219.41) says that these Known as Cuscus grass (38.12). grasses have been ‘born’ from body hairs of Lord Vishnu for protection of The Ashvavaidyaka of Jayadatta dated Shraddha (ritual of manes). to 15th century AD states that a vicious horse is to be fumigated with the fragrant • Balvaja (Eleusine indica): Vayu Purana grass khus (Andropogon muricatus; syn. (75.51-52) states that this species is not Vetiveria zizaniodes). Likewise an entire liked by cattle. list of grasses to be given to elephants is • Varana, lava, and lavavarsha: Species enlisted in the Yavasadhyaya of Palakapya’s of grass quoted in Vayu Purana (75.51- Hastyayurveda (IV.24ff). The text identifi es 52); it is also mentioned that these several types of grasses eaten by elephants 328 Grasses in Indian literature some of which grow in the wild. An attempt trinapallavikapi cha| arjunashcopalam is made below to identify these grasses with caiva dandashookapramodakah|| available data. trinaparnamritashchaiva tatha kakaparooshaka| etani madhuranyahurvipake tu manishinah|| Verses 24–27a pittashleshmaanilartebhyo vaaranebhya Trinavastha maharaja vijantavya pradeeyate| vicakshanaihi | surabhi kuruvindaa va pramoda shvetapatrika|| mridushunti The grasses namely girikakshi (may be kareeram cha tatha vanarapucchika|| girinimba according to Vaidya Nighantu or sauvastika vicitika tathalohitapatrika| Balamushika according to Amarakosha), rasadani giritrinam tatha parnaguha vamshapatri (Coccinum fenestretum), rasa| etanimadhuranyahurvipake nrityakandi (Coriandrum sativum), icchagu katukani cha|| vatakopeeni bhuyishtam (may be icchuka meaning matulunga vriksha shleshmapittaharani cha| according to Shabdachintamani), gankapatri (Triticum sativum), trinapallavika (Striga The grasses surabhi (fragrant grass – Boswellia asiatica), arjuna (Terminalia arjuna), upalam serrata), kuruvindam (Vigna mungo), (sharkaravaaluka according to Medinikosha or pramoda (Lennea grandis), shvetapatrika dadrughnavriksha), dandashooka (Bambusa (Pistica stratiotes), mridushunti (dry ginger arundinacea), pramodaka (Lennea grandis), – Zingiber offi cinale), kareeram (Capparis triparna, amrita (Cynodon dactylon), and aphylla), vanarapucchika (Heteropogon kakaparushaka (Clianthus puniceus alba) contortus or Perotis latifolia), sauvastika are sweet and remove disorders of pitta and (may be Sauveerika meaning a variety shleshma in elephants. of kshudrabadaribhedah – Madanapala Nighantu V.6; or vastuki meaning Verses 30b–35a shvetacillishakah according to Rajanighantu V.7), vichitika, lohitapatrika (Leptochloa Ardrapatri marubakam filiformis or shalincashaka), rasadani joornamarthavibhanjikam|| sthalajam (Boswellia serrata or rasanirgundi according raktadandam cha
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